NameCensus.

UK surname

Swetman

A surname derived from the Old English words "swete" meaning sweet and "man" meaning man.

In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Swetman surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 148, ranked #23,958, down from #22,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Leeds and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Reigate and Banstead, Tamworth and East Hertfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swetman is 199 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.7%.

1881 census count

81

Ranked #22,082

Modern count

148

2016, ranked #23,958

Peak year

1911

199 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swetman had 81 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016, ranked #23,958.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 199 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Swetman surname distribution map

The map shows where the Swetman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Swetman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swetman over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 86 #18,820
1861 historical 71 #24,765
1881 historical 81 #22,082
1891 historical 155 #17,920
1901 historical 196 #15,329
1911 historical 199 #15,016
1997 modern 178 #18,958
1998 modern 180 #19,298
1999 modern 178 #19,592
2000 modern 177 #19,634
2001 modern 169 #19,912
2002 modern 179 #19,598
2003 modern 172 #19,893
2004 modern 174 #19,871
2005 modern 177 #19,598
2006 modern 172 #20,073
2007 modern 172 #20,321
2008 modern 163 #21,238
2009 modern 158 #22,168
2010 modern 169 #21,652
2011 modern 172 #21,248
2012 modern 153 #22,963
2013 modern 153 #23,314
2014 modern 157 #23,101
2015 modern 153 #23,413
2016 modern 148 #23,958

Geography

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Where Swetmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Leeds, Lambeth, Blore, Waterfall, Musden Grange, Ilam, Croxden (Uttoxeter, Staffordshire), Woodhouses, Calton and Lichfield Friary, Fulfen, Farewell with Charley, Lichfield St Chad (Curborough), Lichfield St Micha. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Reigate and Banstead, Tamworth, East Hertfordshire, North Warwickshire and Ceredigion. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 3
2 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Blore, Waterfall, Musden Grange, Ilam, Croxden (Uttoxeter, Staffordshire), Woodhouses, Calton Derbyshire
5 Lichfield Friary, Fulfen, Farewell with Charley, Lichfield St Chad (Curborough), Lichfield St Micha Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Reigate and Banstead 014 Reigate and Banstead
2 Tamworth 001 Tamworth
3 East Hertfordshire 011 East Hertfordshire
4 North Warwickshire 001 North Warwickshire
5 Ceredigion 005 Ceredigion

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swetman

These lists show first names that appear often with the Swetman surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swetman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Swetman, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Swetman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Swetman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Swetman is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Swetman is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Swetman falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Swetman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Swetman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Swetman

The surname SWETMAN has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "swete" meaning "sweet" and "man" referring to a person. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with a pleasant demeanor or a kind and gentle personality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SWETMAN can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from the year 1275, where a William Sweteman is mentioned. This suggests the surname was already established in the West Midlands region of England by the late 13th century.

The SWETMAN surname also appears in various medieval records and manuscripts, including the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, which lists a John Sweteman. Additionally, the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1383 mentions a Walter Sweteman, indicating the name's presence in multiple counties across England.

During the 15th century, variations in spelling began to emerge, such as Swetman, Sweetman, and Sweteman. These variations are likely due to the regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping at the time.

One notable figure with the SWETMAN surname was John Swetman, a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was a prominent member of the local community and served as Mayor of Bristol in 1506.

Another individual of note was William Swetman, born around 1560 in Gloucestershire. He was a successful farmer and landowner, and his descendants continued to reside in the area for several generations.

In the 17th century, the SWETMAN surname can be found in various parish records across England, particularly in counties such as Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Somerset. One example is the baptismal record of Thomas Swetman in the parish of Clifton, Bristol, in 1634.

During the 18th century, the surname SWETMAN spread to other parts of England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in counties like Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. One notable figure from this period was Robert Swetman, born in 1712 in Gloucestershire, who was a renowned clockmaker and instrument maker.

As the centuries progressed, the SWETMAN surname continued to be found across various regions of England, with many individuals contributing to the rich tapestry of the name's history through their lives and achievements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swetman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swetman surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 26 Swetmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.75x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 26 9.75x
Surrey 22 5.72x
Hampshire 16 9.88x
Oxfordshire 6 12.30x
Yorkshire 4 0.51x
Somerset 3 2.36x
Middlesex 2 0.25x
Norfolk 1 0.82x
Warwickshire 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 20 Swetmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.04x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 20 29.04x
Lichfield St Michael 11 1309.52x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 28.29x
Whippingham 8 650.41x
Ryde 5 143.68x
Hilderthorpe 4 1000.00x
Trentham 4 176.21x
Lichfield St Chad 3 500.00x
Souldern 3 2307.69x
Yeovil 3 116.28x
Battersea 2 6.88x
Mile End Old Town 2 16.04x
Northwood 2 86.58x
Wigginton 2 2857.14x
Carisbrooke 1 44.44x
Charlbury 1 181.82x
Leamington Priors 1 20.41x
Norwich St Michael At 1 142.86x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Swetman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Swetman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 8
James 4
Frederick 3
Thomas 3
William 3
Francis 2
George 2
Joseph 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Hale 1
Maria 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Swetman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swetman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Swetman surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swetman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016. That gives Swetman a modern rank of #23,958.

What does the Swetman surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English words "swete" meaning sweet and "man" meaning man.

What does the Swetman map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Swetman bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.